Gemotions

The invitation was placed gently on the counter by her husband. "This came for you," he said, his voice calm. Sarah eyed the envelope. Her jaw tightened. Her hands automatically reached for a glass of water.

She had built a life, a career. But a sense of inadequacy lingered. She worried about what others would think of her, if she had “made it”. She felt a sudden need to check her appearance, to smooth the wrinkles from her brow.

Later, she found herself staring at her reflection in the mirror, her eyes wide, assessing herself critically. She hated the way she looked, the way she felt. She turned away from the mirror, a bitter taste in her mouth.